ICF Construction For Commercial & Industrial Projects

With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 5% over the next 5 to 7 years across all sectors, it’s not surprising that more and more developers are choosing ICF as their construction method of choice. The United States is expected to dominate the insulated concrete form (ICF) in North America and is also likely to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
While there are similarities between residential and commercial construction decisions, it is not surprising that some factors are far more pertinent to commercial building decisions. This would include factors such as speed and efficiency of construction, energy conservation and efficiency, operating costs, building maintenance, and so on. These features are explored in detail in the following paragraphs.

Speed and Efficiency of Construction
ICF assembly and installation can commence the day following the foundation pour. Because the installation is independent of equipment, forms, and other material can easily be transported across the foundation system without damaging the relatively green concrete. Even a large project can easily be served by a small labor crew, with a crew of five taking care of ICF placement, rebar placement, bucking and bracing door and window openings, and installing wall alignment bracing and scaffolding.
A 4,000-square-foot single-story structure can easily be installed, complete with rebar and bucked openings, ready for concrete in 3 to 4 weeks. Even tall wall construction, such as that found in cinema complexes, while needing motorized scaffold systems, still lend themselves to ICF construction resulting from simplicity and ease of construction.

Energy Conservation & Efficiency
Demand for energy-efficient buildings is expected to drive the insulated concrete form market’s growth in North America. The superior energy efficiency of ICF construction leads to significant energy savings compared to the energy efficiency of more traditional building envelopes. Going forward, energy efficiency will become one of the most significant factors affecting buildings over the coming years. Building codes require higher energy standards, and many states now have a dedicated energy code that is rigorously applied. As has been reported in previous articles, California will require all new commercial construction to be net zero energy from 2030. Having an ICF building envelope is a tremendous step towards this, as it will dramatically reduce the cost of the solar installation required to make up the energy shortfall. It is not uncommon for savings of 60% to be achieved, compared to those achieved in a code-compliant alternate construction.

Green Building
Green building standards are now commonplace throughout all sectors of the construction industry. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. Builders using sustainable methods value the LEED rating system and certification. A LEED certification is a valuable recognition for building owners and buyers interested in reducing their carbon footprint by living in a sustainable building. Moving forward, carbon offsets and credits will most likely replace LEED with carbon-neutral solutions. Carbon afforestation credits can help bridge the current gaps and issues with LEED standards, replacing them with a better-balanced solution

High STC Rating
A significant benefit of ICF construction is the quietness of the enclosed space. Different areas of commercial buildings can be effectively soundproofed from other areas just by having interior demising walls built with ICF. This can be particularly effective when there is mixed use in a commercial building, that requires office spaces quieter than the general activity elsewhere. A drive-through carwash is an excellent example of this requirement. For low- and mid-rise multifamily and hotel projects built with ICF, there is an enormous advantage for the occupants, in that they are “soundproofed” from their neighbors! In addition, the low-frequency construction of solid concrete in the ICF walls, and in the ICF floor systems, virtually eliminates vibration, which is a major transmitter of noise.

Reduced Operating Costs
The driving decision for the selection of a construction method for many commercial building owners is not necessarily the initial building cost, but the high continuing operating costs. These would include heating and air conditioning, short- and long-term building maintenance, building serviceability, and other factors. While many commercial buildings are not wood framed, there are still many examples of construction using wood framing for multifamily and hotel projects, even up to four stories. The daily operating costs of wood-frame structures of this nature will be substantially more than those of ICF construction, for the energy efficiency reasons mentioned above. By substantially reducing these day-by-day operating costs, the owner has flexibility regarding the structure of utility payments for tenants, e.g. whether they are included within the lease payment, or otherwise.

Regarding building maintenance, an ICF building envelope will last, without any significant repair, for at least 60 years, and most likely longer. Frequently, wood-framed structures experience damage within a few years of construction, often caused by water intrusion, which leads to long-term continuing repairs and maintenance.

Secure Construction with improved security
Demand for disaster-resistant buildings is also expected to drive the insulated concrete form market’s growth in North America. Earthquake resistance on the West Coast, tornado resistance on the East Coast, and fire resistance just about anywhere in the U.S. is of paramount importance. Due to the incredible strength and resilience of an ICF structure, the disasters mentioned above affect ICF minimally and simultaneously provide a level of protection to the occupants not otherwise experienced.
In conclusion, it is becoming increasingly more apparent to commercial and industrial developers that ICF construction should be the system of choice. With the increasing popularity and industry awareness of ICF construction, this trend is expected to steadily increase over the coming years.